Content

The MCS Foundation is offering organisations
the opportunity to bid for grant funding. They are looking to fund
retrofit-related projects as defined as supporting energy
efficiency or renewable generation measures to domestic buildings
(including improving uptake). This is in line with their objective
to make every UK home carbon free. Grants of up to £50,000
are available through a competitive bidding process.

This decision is to agree to CBC to lead and submit a consortium
bid (with other district councils within Gloucestershire) for grant
funding from the MCS Foundation.

The proposal: Future Fit Homes Heat Pump Roadshow

Domestic (Total events: 12 over a 12-month period)

As an extension of the very successful Future Fit Homes Cheltenham
retrofit project, and as a direct result of positive feedback to
‘test and learn’ heat pump demos in Cheltenham in March
2025, this proposal focusses on taking an air source heat pump out
to communities across
Gloucestershire (this is a fully operational heat pump with working
radiators, hot water cylinder and buffer tank giving people an
opportunity to experience the sound, size and heat type for
themselves). The events revolve around the value of show and tell,
seeking to debunk the myths and position heat pumps (and wider
associated renewables) as a highly viable low-carbon option to gas
and oil boilers.

Green Skills (Total events: 6 over a 12-month period
(bi-monthly))

To make best use of the mobile rig and trainer’s time, in
some locations we propose to extend the demos to Career Hub (and
hopefully trade) locations for staff-only training sessions. We
will provide careers advisers with a tailored 45-minute overview of
heat pumps and the countywide opportunities available for heating
engineers. Our aim is to engage and enthuse those who have a
frontline opportunity to influence others; an audience who we
believe has been overlooked in terms of their importance to
communicating the benefits of Green Skills.

CBC will be lead applicant, and funds recipient, on the MCS bid,
and will host the officer responsible for leading the project work.
Funding will cover an additional 9 months off CBC officer time (REO
officer or externally recruited) to lead the project. CBC match
funding is for staff time in-kind and has been reviewed by relevant
Teams. Three of the other district councils and the county council,
supported by the CLG Climate Change Coordinator are also providing
staff time in kind. In addition, GCC are providing match funding of
£5,000.